East Timor activist returns from Manila

By Sally-Anne Watson

DARWIN -- Robert Wesley Smith (pictured), who attended the Asia Pacific Conference on East Timor (APCET) in Manila from May 31 to June 4, believes the furore which surrounded it has helped to focus world attention on “that tiny corner of the Pacific where so much slaughter has been condoned by Australia and the United States”.

Bowing to pressure from Indonesian President Suharto, Philippines President Fidel Ramos attempted to close down APCET.

Wes (as he is locally known) said that the international response was significant. “There were huge protests outside Indonesian embassies in Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Philippines. Letters of protest poured in to the Philippines from all over the world.”

The conference launched the Asia Pacific Coalition for East Timor. This new international campaign will work for a resolution to the conflict in East Timor, and in West Papua.

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